EP4548817A1 - Counter tray and counter tray set - Google Patents

Abstract

A counter tray for presenting food has a square base (10) and four side walls (20). At least one obtuse bend (21, 22) runs around all side walls (20). An angle of the bend (21, 22) is smaller than an angle between the base (10) and the side walls (20). Several counter trays form a set in which the counter trays have different lengths and/or widths and/or heights. A difference between the length of the counter tray and the length of its base (10) and a difference between the width of the counter tray and the width of its base (10) is identical for all counter trays in the set.

Description

Counter bowl and counter bowl set

The present invention relates to a counter tray for presenting food. Furthermore, it relates to a set of several such counter trays.

State of the art

Counter trays are used, for example, at butchers' meat counters to present meat and other food products to customers. Typically, a set of several counter trays is arranged side by side to showcase different food products. If part of an item has been sold and the counter tray used for that product becomes empty, this can create an unfavorable impression for potential customers. This impression is further reinforced by the fact that counter trays often do not have an attractive surface, as they must be made of food-safe plastic and cannot be printed to comply with relevant standards, such as Regulations 1935/2004/EU, 10/2011/EU, and 2023/2006/EU.

However, constantly refilling the counter trays is not always possible, especially with high-priced food.

One object of the present invention is therefore to provide a counter tray that gives the viewer the impression of a full counter tray even when only partially filled. A further object of the present invention is to provide a set of such counter trays.

Disclosure of the invention

This object is achieved in a first aspect of the invention by a counter tray for presenting food, which has a square base and four side walls. In particular, the base is rectangular, which allows several such counter trays to be arranged next to each other in rows and columns. However, a convex trapezoidal base is also possible, for example. This allows several such counter trays to be arranged around a central round counter tray.

The counter shell has at least one obtuse angle running around all side walls. The angle of the angle is therefore an obtuse angle of more than 90°. Each angle runs around the side walls at a constant height. Furthermore, the angle of the angle is smaller than an angle between the floor and the side walls. The angle between the floor and the side walls is preferably also an obtuse angle.

The blunt angle forms a step in the side walls of the counter shell. This is suitable for accommodating an insert plate, which can reduce the internal volume of the counter tray. When the counter tray is partially empty, the food can first be removed and then a tray placed on the step. When the counter tray is subsequently refilled with the remaining food, it appears full to the observer. The obtuse angle of the bend and the preferably equally obtuse angle between the base and the side walls enable easy and hygienic cleaning of the counter tray despite its angled design.

Preferably, the side walls have two obtuse bends. A first bend is positioned closer to the floor than a second bend. The angle of the first bend is greater than the angle of the second bend. Furthermore, the angle of the first bend is smaller than the angle between the floor and the side walls. The side walls of the counter tray thus have two steps, allowing two different reductions in their internal volume by inserting insert panels.

To describe the internal volume of the counter tray, several sub-volumes are defined below. A first sub-volume of the counter tray extends from the floor to the first bend. A second sub-volume extends from the first bend to the second bend. A third sub-volume extends from the second bend to the top edge of the counter tray. If no insert plate has been placed on one of the bends, the internal volume of the counter tray available for the food corresponds to the sum of all three sub-volumes. If an insert plate has been placed on the step formed by the first bend, the first sub-volume is separated and the volume available for food The internal volume of the counter tray is limited to the sum of the second partial volume and the third partial volume. If an insert plate is placed on the step formed by the second angled portion, only the third partial volume is available to hold food.

Preferably, the first sub-volume is smaller than the second sub-volume, and the second sub-volume is smaller than the third sub-volume. Furthermore, it is preferred that a height of the first sub-volume is smaller than a height of the second sub-volume, and that a height of the second sub-volume is smaller than a height of the third sub-volume.

A height of the counter bowl suitable for practical use, which is composed of the sum of the heights of the three partial volumes, is in particular in the range of 2 cm to 11 cm.

The counter tray preferably has a base body made of a first plastic. This is at least partially printed. Preferably, it is printed over the entire inside of the side walls and the base. The at least partially printed first plastic is coated with a transparent second plastic and thus sealed. This seal is applied at least to the entire inside surface of the counter tray. In particular, however, its entire outside surface can also be coated with the second plastic. In this way, food-safety of the counter tray can be achieved despite the printing. Transparent is understood here and below to mean in particular a plastic whose transmission in the visible wavelength range of light is at least 90%.

The first plastic is, in particular, an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), preferably a methyl methacrylate-modified ABS (MABS), and the second plastic is, in particular, a polyurethane (PU). Both plastics can independently contain additives and/or fillers. The first plastic can also contain dyes to color it through the print.

Even if no printing is planned for the base body, it can be advantageous for the base body to comprise a first plastic coated with a transparent second plastic. Such a coating can be used, for example, to impart a shine to the surface of the counter tray. A suitable second plastic for this purpose is, in particular, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). In this embodiment of the counter tray, an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) is also preferred as the first plastic, with methyl methacrylate-modified ABS (MABS) being particularly preferred.

ABS, PU, and PMMA are all food-safe. However, it would also be possible to use a non-food-safe plastic as the first plastic and a food-safe plastic as the second plastic, since the first plastic, due to the coating with the second plastic, does not come into contact with the food stored in the counter tray.

The countertop preferably has an insert plate for each angled section. The outer contour of the insert plate, resulting from its four edges, corresponds to the inner contour of the countertop at the height of the respective angled section, so that the insert plate rests on the step formed by the angled section. These insert plates can be placed on their respective angles to reduce the internal volume of the counter tray or, when not required, removed from the counter tray.

Furthermore, the countertop can be provided with an insert plate whose outer contour, resulting from its four edges, corresponds to the inner contour of the floor. This insert plate can be placed on the floor to give it a special surface finish, for example.

In a preferred embodiment, each insert plate has a base body made of the first plastic, which is at least partially printed and coated with a transparent second plastic.

In this embodiment, the same plastics are preferred for the insert panels as for the base body of the counter tray and its coating. This also applies to any additives and/or fillers.

In another preferred embodiment of the insert plate, it is made of a transparent plastic. This allows printing on the inside of the counter tray to be seen through the insert plate when it is not completely covered with food. The transparent plastic of the insert plate is, in particular, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the insert plate has a surface structure that differs from the surface structure of the base body of the counter tray. By applying a sufficiently thin coating of the second plastic, this The surface structure is also retained on the coated insert plate. For example, the insert plates, including one that can be placed directly on the floor, can have a grooved structure, a grid structure, or a honeycomb structure, which allows liquids released by the food to drain away and thus prevents the food from sticking to the respective insert plate.

In a further aspect of the invention, a set is provided to achieve the object, comprising a plurality of counter trays according to the first aspect of the invention. These counter trays have different lengths and/or widths and/or heights. A difference between the length of each counter tray and the length of its base, as well as a difference between the width of each counter tray and the width of its base, is, however, a value that is constant for all counter trays within the set. This creates the optical effect that, despite their angles, the counter trays of the set appear to have identical corners when viewed from above, thus creating a harmonious overall appearance when presented on a counter.

The set can be realized in particular with counter trays whose lengths are preferably in the range of 14 cm to 84 cm and whose widths are preferably in the range of 13 cm to 30 cm. The lengths are particularly preferably in the range of 15 cm to 80 cm and very particularly preferably in the range of 20 cm to 40 cm. The widths are particularly preferably in the range of 14 cm to 40 cm and very particularly preferably in the range of 15 cm to 30 cm.

Short description of the drawings

• Figur 1a zeigt eine isometrische Darstellung einer Thekenschale gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.
• Figur 1 b zeigt eine Aufsicht auf die Thekenschale gemäß Figur 1a.
• Figur 1c zeigt eine Seitenansicht der Thekenschale gemäß Figur 1a.
• Figur 2 zeigt eine Darstellung der Thekenschale gemäß Figur 1a, in der alle ihre Seitenwände planarisiert wurden.
• Figur 3 zeigt eine isometrische Darstellung einer Thekenschale gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung, auf deren Boden eine Einlegeplatte gelegt wurde.
• Figur 4 zeigt eine isometrische Darstellung einer Thekenschale gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung, auf deren erste Abwinkelung ein Einlegeplatte gelegt wurde.
• Figur 5 zeigt eine Thekenschale gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung in isometrischer Darstellung, auf deren zweite Abwinkelung ein Einlegeplatte gelegt wurde.
• Figur 6 zeigt ein eine isometrische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Thekenschale gemäß der Erfindung mit einem trapezförmigen Boden.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description.

• Figure 1a shows an isometric view of a counter tray according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 1 b shows a top view of the counter bowl according to Figure 1a .
• Figure 1c shows a side view of the counter shell according to Figure 1a .
• Figure 2 shows a representation of the counter bowl according to Figure 1a in which all its side walls were planarized.
• Figure 3 shows an isometric view of a counter tray according to an embodiment of the invention, on the bottom of which an insert plate has been placed.
• Figure 4 shows an isometric representation of a counter tray according to the embodiment of the invention, on whose first bend an insert plate has been placed.
• Figure 5 shows a counter tray according to an embodiment of the invention in an isometric view, on whose second bend an insert plate has been placed.
• Figure 6 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a counter tray according to the invention with a trapezoidal base.

Embodiments of the invention

A counter tray according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown in the Figures 1a to 1c It shows according to Figure 1a a rectangular base 10 and four side walls 20. Two bends 21, 22 run around the side walls 20. The first bend 21 is arranged closer to the base 10 than the second bend 22. A first partial volume 31 of the counter bowl extends from its base 10 to the first bend 21. A second partial volume 32 extends between the first bend 21 and the second bend 22. A third partial volume 33 extends from the second bend 22 to the upper edge of the counter bowl.

As in Figure 1b As shown, the base 10 has a length L ₁₀ of, for example, 185 mm and a width B ₁₀ of, for example, 115 mm. At the height of the first bend 21, which forms the upper edge of the first partial volume 31, a length L ₃₁ of the counter shell is, for example, 210 mm and its width B ₃₁ is, for example, 140 mm. At the height of the second bend 22, which forms the upper edge of the second partial volume 32, a length L ₃₂ of the counter shell is, for example, 260 mm and its width B ₃₂ is, for example, 190 mm. At the height of the upper edge of the counter shell, which delimits the third partial volume 33, a length L ₃₃ of the counter shell is, for example, 280 mm and its width B ₃₃ is, for example, 210 mm.

While maintaining this in Figure 1b With the dimensions shown, the counter tray can be designed in three embodiments B1 to B3 with different heights of 20 mm in the case of embodiment B1, 40 mm in the case of embodiment B2, and 70 mm in the case of embodiment B3. This results in different heights H ₃₁ of the first partial volume 31, H ₃₂ of the second partial volume 32 and H ₃₃ of the third partial volume 33. This is achieved by providing different values for the angle α between the base 10 and the side walls 20 as well as the angle β of the first bend 21 and the angle γ of the second bend 22. These are shown for the embodiment B2 in Figure 1c shown and tabulated below in Table 1 for the three examples B1, B2 and B3: Table 1 B1 B2 B3 _H30 20.00 mm 40.00 mm 70.00 mm _H31 1.32 mm 2.65 mm 4.64 mm _H32 7.55 mm 15.09 mm 26.41 mm _H33 11.13 mm 22.26 mm 38.95 mm α 174° 168° 160° β 169° 161° 154° γ 149° 145° 151°

For the counter trays according to all embodiments B1, B2 and B3, the difference between the length L ₃₃ of the counter tray and the length L ₁₀ of its base 10 and the difference between the width B ₃₃ of the counter tray and the width B ₁₀ of its base 10 is 95 mm in each case.

To clarify the structure of the counter bowl, this is shown in Figure 2 shown in a planarized representation. In this representation, the side walls 20 were separated from each other along the four corners of the counter shell in order to increase the three angles α, β, and γ to a value of 180° each in order to force the side walls 20 into the same plane as the base 10.

In the embodiments described above, the counter tray is made, for example, of ABS, which is printed with a decorative motif on the base 10 and on the inside of the side walls 20. This motif is sealed with a polyurethane coating so that potentially hazardous dyes cannot come into contact with food presented in the counter tray.

Three insert panels 40 to 42 are provided for insertion into the counter shell. In the exemplary embodiment described below, these insert panels are made of PMMA, for example, and have a honeycomb structure on their upper surface. Figure 3 shows how a first insert plate 40, whose outer contour corresponds to the inner contour of the base 10, has been placed on the base 10. Its length corresponds to the length L ₁₀ of the base 10, and its width B ₁₀ corresponds to the width of the base 10. This allows the entire interior volume of the counter tray to be filled with a food item such as meat. This rests on the honeycomb structure of the first insert plate 40, allowing meat juice to drain downwards. In places where the first insert plate 40 is not covered with meat, the printing on the base 10 is visible due to the transparency of the first insert plate 40.

If part of the meat presented in the counter tray has been sold, it can be temporarily removed from the counter tray to serve the meat presented in the Figure 4 A second insert plate 41 is inserted into the counter shell as shown. The outer contour of this second insert plate 41 corresponds to the first bend 21, so that it rests on it. Its length therefore corresponds to the length L ₃₁ of the counter shell at the height of the first bend 21, and its width corresponds to the width B ₃₁ of the counter shell at the height of the first bend. 21. This reduces the available internal volume of the counter tray. When the counter tray is refilled with the remaining meat, it appears full to the observer.

As soon as a larger portion of the meat has been sold, it can be removed from the counter tray again and, as in Figure 5 As shown, a third insert plate 42, the outer contour of which corresponds to the second bend 22, is inserted into the counter tray so that it rests on the second bend 22. Its length therefore corresponds to the length L ₃₂ of the counter tray at the height of the second bend 22, and its width corresponds to the width B ₃₂ of the counter tray at the height of the second bend 22. This further reduces the internal volume of the counter tray. If the counter tray is now refilled with the remaining meat, it appears to be full again.

Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of the counter tray. This differs from the previously described embodiments in that the base 10 of the counter tray is not rectangular, but trapezoidal. This makes it possible to place several such counter trays in a ring around a central element on a counter. In the same way as the previously described embodiments of the counter tray, this counter tray also has two bends 21, 22, each of which runs around its four side walls 20. Insert plates 40 to 42 can also be placed in this counter tray, the outer contour of which corresponds to the base 10 of the first bend 21 or the second bend 22. Accordingly, these insert plates 40 to 42 each have the shape of a convex trapezoid.

Claims (15)

Counter tray for presenting food, comprising a square base (10) and four side walls (20), wherein it has at least one obtuse bend (21, 22) running around all side walls (20) and an angle (β, y) of the bend (21, 22) is smaller than an angle (α) between the base (10) and the side walls (20). Counter tray according to claim 1, characterized in that the side walls (20) have two obtuse bends (21) and an angle (β) of a first bend (21), which is arranged closer to the base (20) than a second bend (22), is greater than an angle (γ) of the second bend and smaller than the angle (α) between the base (10) and the side walls (20), wherein a first partial volume (31) of the counter tray extends from the base (10) to the first bend (21), a second partial volume (31) of the counter tray extends from the first bend (21) to the second bend (22) and a third partial volume (31) of the counter tray extends from the second bend (23) to the edge of the counter tray. Counter tray according to claim 2, characterized in that the first partial volume (31) is smaller than the second partial volume (32) and the second partial volume (32) is smaller than the third partial volume (33). Counter tray according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a height (H ₃₁ ) of the first partial volume (31) is smaller than a height (H ₃₂ ) of the second partial volume (32) and a height (H ₃₂ ) of the second partial volume (32) is smaller than a height (H ₃₃ ) of the third partial volume (33). Counter tray according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a height (H ₃₀ ) of the counter tray is in the range from 2 cm to 11 cm. Counter tray according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it has a base body made of a first plastic which is at least partially printed and is coated with a second plastic which is transparent. Counter tray according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it has an insert plate (41, 42) for each bend (21, 22), the outer contour of which corresponds to the inner contour of the counter tray at the height (H ₂₁ , H ₂₂ ) of the respective bend (21, 22). Counter tray according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it has an insert plate (40) whose outer contour corresponds to the inner contour of the base (10). Counter tray according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the insert plate (40, 41, 42) has a surface structure which differs from a surface structure of a base body of the counter tray. Counter tray according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the insert plate (40, 41, 42) consists of a plastic which is transparent. Counter tray according to claim 10, characterized in that the plastic of the insert plate (40, 41, 42) is a PMMA. Counter tray according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the insert plate (40, 41, 42) has a base body made of a first plastic, which is at least partially printed, and is coated with a second plastic, which is transparent. Counter tray according to one of claims 6 or 12, characterized in that the first plastic is an ABS and the second plastic is a polyurethane. Set comprising a plurality of counter trays according to one of claims 1 to 13, which have different lengths (L ₃₃ ) and/or widths (B ₃₃ ) and/or heights (H ₃₀ ), wherein a difference between the length (L ₃₃ ) of the counter tray and the length (L ₁₀ ) of its base (10) and a difference between the width (B ₃₃ ) of the counter tray and the width (B ₁₀ ) of its base (10) is identical for all counter trays. Set according to claim 14, characterized in that the lengths (L ₃₃ ) of the counter trays are in the range from 14 cm to 84 cm and the widths (B ₃₃ ) of the counter trays are in the range from 13 cm to 30 cm.

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